Ukraine war updates: daily briefings as of July 20, 2016

Ukraine war updates from the war zone in southeast Ukraine as of July 20, 2016 by ATO HQ operational dataand Presidential Administration spokesman on ATO issues briefing: EMPR highlights.

(1) The situation in the war zone in southeast Ukraine remains tense. Russian armed forces opened fire 54 times over the last day, in particular: 6 times on Luhansk direction, 24 times on Donetsk direction and 24 times on Mariupol direction;

(2) Luhansk direction: Russian occupiers launched attacks from 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns at Stanytsya Luhanska; Russian antiaircraft installations were used by the enemy in Novozvanivka; Russian APCs fire reported near Novooleksandrivka; to this end, the enemy uased small arms 5 times while shelling at Ukrainian troops positions in Popasna;

(3) Donetsk direction: Avdiivka remains the hottest spot on this direction, where the enemy released about 50 mortar mines; in particular, Russian forces actively used 120-mm and 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms during attacks upon Ukrainain troops positions there; as result, 19 y.o. civilian was killed by the Russian fire in Avdiivlka; Russian occupiers also fired with 120-mm mortars at Mayorsk and with 82-mm mortars – at Butovka mine, Opytne and Zaytseve accordingly; the enemy opened fire upon Ukrainian posirions in Donetsk airport with mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns; another 20-min Russian attack at Ukrainain troops position reported near Svitlodarsk; to this end, Russian armed forces and their proxies continue actively used newest electronic warfare equipment against Ukrainain troops;

(4) Mariupol direction: the enemy released 12 shells from forbidden by the Minsk agreements 122-mm artillery upon Ukrainian positions in Shyrokino as well as used there 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns; Russian occupiers used 120-mm and 82-mm mortars during attacks against Ukrainian troops in Talakivka; Ukrainian positions in Krasnogorivka, Hnutove and Vodyane als ocame under Russian mortar fire; the enemy luanched firing with different types of small arms at Maryinka, Slavne, Starognativka and Novogrygorivtsy;

(5) Russian forces’ losses in the war zone in southeast Ukraine over the last day are as follows: 6 killed and 7 wounded;

(6) No lethal casualties among Ukrainian serviceman as well as no wounded in action reported in southeast Ukraine over the last day.